Gonzalez has instant impact in debut

First baseman Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a three run home run in his first at bat as a Dodger in the first inning against the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.STEPHEN DUNN, GETTY IMAGES

The Dodgers officially acquired four-time All-Stars Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, former World Series MVP Josh Beckett and infielder Nick Punto from the Boston Red Sox in the largest trade in franchise history on Saturday afternoon.

A few hours later, Gonzalez made an immediate impact against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium. He belted a three-run homer in his debut in Dodger blue in the first inning to lead the Dodgers to an 8-2 victory.

"You couldn't write a better story, right?" Gonzalez said. "The second pitch was a fastball in, and I was telling the guys it was just all adrenaline. I was just really excited. When I saw the ball half way on the trajectory, that was a great feeling."

The Dodgers (69-58) also made up some ground on the San Francisco Giants (71-56) and the St. Louis Cardinals (69-57), who lost Saturday. The Dodgers trail the first-place Giants by two games in the NL West, and they closed the gap with the Cardinals to one-half game in the hunt for the NL's second wild-card spot.

"I'm just very excited to be here in the middle of the pennant race and make this push to win the division and get into the playoffs first and foremost and make a run at this thing," Gonzalez said. "This has been a great day for us, and it's great jumping off with a win."

The Marlins manufactured a run in the top of the first off reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw. Gorkys Hernandez doubled down the third-base line to lead off the game. Donovan Solano moved Hernandez over to third with a groundout, and Hernandez scored on Jose Reyes' groundout to shortstop.

The Dodgers responded immediately in the bottom of the inning Mark Ellis lined a shot to left-center field that one-hopped the wall for a double. Luis Cruz slapped a double down the right-field line to drive in Ellis with the tying run. Matt Kemp singled up the middle to give the Dodgers runners on first and third for Gonzalez's first plate appearance as a Dodger.

Punto walked in the bottom of the eighth when he made his Dodgers debut pinch hitting for Kershaw (12-7). Kershaw worked eight innings and allowed three hits, two earned runs and two walks with eight strikeouts. Punto later scored on Cruz's RBI single to make it 8-2.

NOTES

Chad Billingsley, who left Friday's game in the fourth inning because of pain his right elbow, was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the second time in as many months. Jerry Hairston, who is awaiting hip surgery, was moved to the 60-day DL and Alex Castellanos was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. ...

Andre Ethier went 4 for 4 and has hits in 10 consecutive plate appearances, an L.A. Dodgers record and tying the franchise record set by Edward Konetchy (1919).

First baseman Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a three run home run in his first at bat as a Dodger in the first inning against the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. STEPHEN DUNN, GETTY IMAGES
First baseman Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers waits in the dugout before the game with the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. STEPHEN DUNN, GETTY IMAGES
First baseman Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers bumps fists with starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw in the dugout before the game with the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. STEPHEN DUNN, GETTY IMAGES
First baseman Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a three run home run in his first at bat as a Dodger in the first inning against the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. STEPHEN DUNN, GETTY IMAGES
Newly arrived pitcher Josh Beckett of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs off the field after throwing in the outfield before the game with the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. STEPHEN DUNN, GETTY IMAGES
First baseman Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives with manager Don Mattingly as he returns to the dugout after hitting a three run home run in his first at bat as a Dodger in the first inning against the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. STEPHEN DUNN, GETTY IMAGES
First baseman Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three run home run in his first at bat as a Dodger in the first inning against the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. STEPHEN DUNN, GETTY IMAGES
Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, and Luis Cruz of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after all three score on Gonzalez' three run home run in his first at bat as a Dodger in the first inning against the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. STEPHEN DUNN, GETTY IMAGES
First baseman Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a three run home run in his first at bat as a Dodger in the first inning against the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. STEPHEN DUNN, GETTY IMAGES
Los Angeles Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez watches his three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. MARK J. TERRILL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Los Angeles Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez swings on a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. MARK J. TERRILL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, left, talks with Adrian Gonzalez before his at-bat during the first inning of the Dodgers' baseball game against the Florida Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. MARK J. TERRILL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Los Angeles Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez, right, is congratulated by Matt Kemp after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of the Dodgers' baseball game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. MARK J. TERRILL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Los Angeles Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez, left, is congratulated by Luis Cruz, center, and Matt Kemp after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of the Dodgers' baseball game against the Miami Marlins, on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. MARK J. TERRILL, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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